The Mary Magdala Celebration on July 24 has changed venues from St. John Vianney RC Church to the Sedona Creative Life Center, 333 Schnebly Hill Rd., after a representative from the Bishop’s office called objecting to one of the speakers on the program.

According to event chair, Barbara Litrell, the Bishop objects to keynote Barbara Mayer, former Catholic nun and author of Beyond Religion -The Personal Search for Truth. He said Mayer, on her website, endorses personal relationship with God and opposes organized religion. According to Mayer, “I honor the role organized religion plays. Religion is a valuable vehicle in humanity’s eternal search for God but I also respect those who search for a deeper, more personal relationship with God beyond organized religion. The word “catholic” means universal. I celebrate the universality of one God of us all, and I don’t see why the Catholic Bishop has a problem with that. ”

Mayer has studied world belief systems and champions the role of rising feminine energies in social advancement and growing spiritual maturity. Her book was released in April, 2010.

The program, “Woman: Creation to Compassion – A Multi-Faith Celebration” also features Rev. Ann Johnson, Vicar, St. John’s Episcopal Lutheran Church in Williams, AZ representing Wisdom Tradition; Vida Khow, founder, Walking in Beauty LLC, representing Native American tradition; Rev. Mary Piotrowski, Rector, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, representing Christianity; Rabbi Alicia Magal, the Jewish Community of Sedona/ Verde Valley representing Judaism; Jacqueline Freeman-Ennaffah representing Islam; Roshi Anne Seisen Saunders, Abbot, Sweetwater Zen Center in National City, CA. representing Buddhism; Bette Venkateswaren of Sedona representing Hinduism; Jeanne Crane, Unitarian Universalist addressing Celtic Tradition; and Sarah McLean, director, Sedona Meditation Training Company addressing Modern Mysticism.